Method, system, software, and signal for performing events for related programs

• US 6,957,445 B1
• Filed: 06/16/1999
• Issued: 10/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gateway 2000, Inc. (Acer, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Inventors: Liebenow, Frank
• Primary Examiner(s): BUI, KIEU OANH T
• Application Number:
  US09/334,185
• Time in Patent Office: 2,316 Days
• Field of Search: 348/563, 348/564, 725/39, 725/45, 725/92, 725/93, 725/94, 725/115, 725/116, 725/40, 725/44, 725/47, 725/50
• US Class Current: 725/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47214 for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/77 between a recording apparatus and a television camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 on tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/85 on discs or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only

Abstract

A method, system, software and signal wherein a subset of program information for related programs is maintained with program information for a given program. The program information for the given program, including the subset of program information for related programs, can be maintained in an electronic program guide (EPG). A system can use the information in the EPG to schedule and perform program events automatically, or information can be provided to users so that the users can manually schedule or perform program events.

Claims

1. A method for performing events for related programs, comprising:

maintaining a subset of program information for at least one related program of a given program, the program information for the at least one related program being maintained with program information for the given program in an information handling system;

providing information on programs related to the at least one related program but otherwise unrelated to the given program except through the at least one related program, the information on programs related to the at least one related program being associated with the subset of program information for the at least one related program; and

performing at least one program event for the given program and, based upon the subset of program information, the at least one related program.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the action of maintaining the program information for the given program, including the subset of program information for the at least one related program, in an electronic program guide (EPG).

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining user input based on the information provided; and

performing program events based on the user input.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the action of performing program events includes recording the given program and the at least one related program.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the subset of program information is appended to the program information for the given program.

6. A system for performing events for related programs, comprising:

at least one processor;

memory operably associated with said processor; and

a program of instructions configured to be executed by said processor and stored in said memory, said program of instructions including instructions configured to maintain a subset of program information for at least one related program of a given program, the program information for the at least one related program being maintained with program information for the given program in an information handling system, provide information on programs related to the at least one related program but otherwise unrelated to the given program except through the at least one related program, the information on programs related to the at least one related program being associated with the subset of program information for the at least one related program, and perform at least one program event for the given program and, based upon the subset of program information, perform at least one program event for the at least one related program and the information on program related through the at least one related program and associated with the subset of program information for the at least one related program.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein said program of instruction further includes instructions configured to maintain the program information for the given program, including the subset of program information for the at least one related program, in an electronic program guide (EPG).

8. The system of claim 6 wherein said program of instructions further includes:

instructions configured to obtain user input based on the information

provided; and

instruction configured to perform program events based on the user input.

9. The system of claim 6 further comprising a recording device.

10. The system of claim 6 wherein the subset of program information is appended to the program information for the given program.

11. A computer readable medium tangibly embodying a program of instructions implementing the following method:

maintaining a subset of program information for at least one related program of a given program, the program information for the at least one related program being maintained with program information for the given program in an information handling system;

providing information on programs related to the at least one related program but otherwise unrelated to the given program except through the at least one related program, the information on programs related to the at least one related program being associated with the subset of program information for the at least one related program; and

performing at least one program event for the given program and based upon the subset of program information, the at least one related program.

12. The computer readable medium of claim 11 wherein said program of instruction further implements maintaining the program information for the given program, including the subset of program information for the at least one related program, in an electronic program guide (EPG).

13. The computer readable medium of claim 11 wherein said program of instruction further implements:

obtaining user input based on the information provided; and

performing program events based on the user input.

14. The computer readable medium of claim 11 wherein said program of instructions further implements recording the given program and the at least one related program.

15. The computer readable medium of claim 11 wherein the subset of program information is appended to the program information for the given program.

16. A signal tangibly embodied in a propagation medium, comprising:

at least one instruction configured to maintain, in an electronic program guide (EPG), a subset of program information for at least one related program of a given program, the program information for the at least one related program being maintained with program information for the given program;

at least one instruction configured to provide information on programs related to the at least one related program but otherwise unrelated to the given program except through the at least one related program, the information on programs related to the at least one related program being associated with the subset of program information for the at least one related program; and

at least one instruction configured to perform at least one program event for the given program and, based upon the subset of program information, the at least one related program.

17. The signal of claim 16 wherein the signal further comprises at least one instruction configured to obtain user input based on the information provided and at least one instruction configured to perform the program events based on user input.

18. The signal of claim 16 wherein the action of performing program events includes recording the given program and the at least one related program.

19. The signal of claim 16 wherein the subset of program information is appended to the program information for the given program.